ISRO Testing GSAT-7 Satellite for Indian Navy

[Satellite TODAY 06-07-12] The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has built a dedicated satellite for the Indian Navy that will be launched this summer by Arianespace on an Ariane-5 rocket from the European Spaceport in French Guiana, ISRO announced June 6.

The GSAT-7 communication satellite is currently undergoing thermo-vacuum tests at the ISRO Satellite Center in Bangalore. The Indian Navy will use GSAT-7 to communicate with its submarines, frigates, destroyers and aircraft from their bases onshore.

According to ISRO’s annual report for 2011-12, GSAT-7 was designed as, “a multi-band satellite that employs the standard 2.5-ton bus platform with the power handling capability of around 2,600 Watts and a lift-off mass of 2,550 kg.”

The report added that all of the satellite’s mainframe and payload elements have been delivered and that GSAT-7 would be ready for shipment sometime in 2012.

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